NBA Podcast Says OKC Thunder First Round Opponent 'Has a Good Shot at Taking Them Out'

Despite Oklahoma City earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, national media members are still skeptical of Mark Daigneault's squad.

On Sunday afternoon, the Oklahoma City Thunder became the youngest team in NBA history to earn a No. 1 seed.

Despite winning 57 games in the regular season and boasting Coach of the Year, MVP and Rookie of the Year candidates, many NBA observers and national media members still seem to lack confidence that OKC can make it past the first round of the playoffs this year.

After playoff seeding was announced, The Ringer's Bill Simmons claimed that the Thunder "can not beat the Lakers."

While the team's first round matchup is still undetermined, a different show on The Ringer's network made a similar claim about Oklahoma City on Sunday evening. In an episode of "Group Chat" where hosts Justin Verrier, Wosny Lambre and Rob Mahoney discussed NBA Playoff seeding after the final day of the 2023-24 regular season, the trio gave their opinions on how OKC might fare in the opening round.

“I would say whoever plays the Thunder has a good shot at taking them out,” Lambre said. “Very young team, clear flaws in terms of size and physicality, and I think in the playoffs, the physicality is going to favor the bigger teams. When the refs are calling a whistle that way, where you have to actually really foul them to get these calls. I think the bigger team gets to push the smaller guys around in that instance, and that favors a bigger team. I think they have just sort of roster limitations that don’t bode well for them in the playoffs.” 

This is not the first time a national media member has aired this grievance of the Thunder, as many talk shows and podcasts have mentioned Oklahoma City's lack of size as a potential problem throughout the season. OKC ranks 28th in the league in rebounds per game, but only averages around two boards per game less than the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans.

Rookie center Chet Holmgren led the Thunder in rebounding, averaging 7.9 boards per contest. While this is a decent mark for a first-year player, there is still skepticism around Holmgren's ability to fight down low due to his thin stature. The 7-footer is one of three players on the team to tally more than five rebounds per game, with third-year guard Josh Giddey averaging 6.4 boards per contest and All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.

“All that being said, they’re hyper-talented, very great players on their side,” Lambre continued. “I could see them maybe making a run to the conference finals, but I think whoever plays the Thunder… has a good chance of making some noise.” 

Mahoney pushed back on Lambre's statement, however, offering more belief in the Western Conference top seed.

“I just feel like the Thunder maybe are more unflappable than you’re giving them credit for,” Mahoney responded. “They can be pushed around, of course you can win the rebounding battle and make some inroads that way, but they play with such control and such poise that I treat them and think of them differently than I do other young teams. I think they are going to stick to their stuff, I think they are going to play within themselves.” 

Despite their lack of size and expeirence, Mark Daigneault's team went 2-2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 3-1 against the Denver Nuggets during the regular season. Both the Wolves and Nuggets have plenty of size, but still were unable to dominate their matchups against OKC.

Much of the doubt surrounding Oklahoma City in a potential matchup with the Lakers seems to stem from Gilgeous-Alexander and company losing the season series 1-3 against Los Angeles as well as the Lakers' size and experience, with Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura all in Darvin Ham's rotation.

“If you’ve read the reports out of Laker-land, they like their matchup against the Thunder,” Lambre said. “They’ve played well on-court against them all season long.” 

While Los Angeles has had success against the OKC, the Lakers are 24th in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage while Oklahoma City has the best percentage from beyond the arc in the league this season.

Still, Mahoney agreed with Lambre that the Lakers should be looking to draw the Thunder in a playoff series.

“I do think that they should like that matchup,” Mahoney said. “For as much as I respect the Thunder, if you’re the Lakers, that is your road.” 

To get a matchup with the OKC, Los Angeles would have to lose to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the Play-In Tournament before taking down either the Sacramento Kings or the Golden State Warriors, neither of which the Lakers have fared well against this season.

Even if Los Angeles does end up in the No. 8 seed following the Play-In Tournament, Oklahoma City will have home court advantage throughout the Western Conference Playoffs and is a team full of young players with fresh legs.

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